July 28, 2017 You did it! With a little over half of the year behind us, I want to reflect on the legislative success made possible by AARP volunteers like you. Dozens of volunteers met with elected officials, while thousands of home-based activists sent important e-mails and made calls. Volunteers even staffed community events, talked to the public about the issues at stake and convinced many to sign petitions to elected officials. Even more boldy, some volunteers told their personal stories in videos, helping

July 27, 2017 Learn simple steps to increase your online security Are you an easy target for online hackers or scammers? By learning some simple steps to secure your phone, increase your online safety and recognize scams, you reduce your risk of becoming the next victim. That’s why it’s a smart move to attend AARP’s Online Safety Workshop. In this live, one-hour online event, you’ll be guided by your workshop host as you learn the latest in online safety. You’ll also learn about

July 21, 2017 Many of North Carolina’s family caregivers, patients, and retirees may welcome three new measures AARP helped gain bi-partisan support for through the General Assembly. This week, Governor Roy Cooper signed into law three bills to make life a little easier and more affordable for many older adults and their families. Nurse Licensure Compact To help respond to a shortage of healthcare workers in North Carolina, licensed nurses from other states can now move here and begin working with less red

July 7, 2017 Making it easier for licensed nurses to practice in NC Legislation to allow nurses to practice in any state that is part of the Nurse Licensure Compact passed the North Carolina General Assembly last week. AARP helped push for the legislation that maintains patient safety and quality of care while making it easier for nurses to practice in our state. It allows licensed nurses from other states to practice in North Carolina without having to get re-licensed. The passage of

July 7, 2017 CHARLOTTE AARP in Charlotte is presenting a series of free workshops this month to help people prepare the challenges of caregiving and long-term care as well as an overview of Medicare, from how to choose a plan and the benefits Medicare offers, to what changes to the program may come in the future. The events are free and open to the public, but registration is requested. Prepare to Care This workshop includes information on how to have vital conversations

July 3, 2017 Learn how to create a family plan and find the support you need You may care for someone full time, 24/7. Or you may help someone with driving or grocery shopping a couple times a week. Either way, you’re a caregiver. And AARP’s caregiving expert, Amy Goyer, is here to guide you on your journey during the Online CAREversations Workshop. It’s a live, interactive event, so it’s the perfect way for busy people like you to access expert advice, interact

July 1, 2017 Medicare isn’t there for you only when you’re sick. The health care program offers a slew of preventive services as well, including immunizations for older patients, who are especially vulnerable to influenza. The AARP Protect Medicare van is crisscrossing North Carolina this summer, reminding residents of the benefits Medicare offers and the battle to defend it. Preventive services under Medicare include screenings for colorectal cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and other chronic illnesses. The program covers flu shots because influenza can

June 28, 2017 Let me introduce you to a family caregiver, Lisa from Hawaii. With the help of her sister, Lisa cared for her mother with Alzheimer’s disease — managing medications, cleaning the house, and handling any medical issues. They also managed her mother’s finances. Lisa shared: “It felt like our whole world was slowly falling apart. At the time we did not know much about the disease or how quickly it was going to debilitate her. My sister and I took responsibility

June 22, 2017 Statement from AARP North Carolina State Director Doug Dickerson in reaction to the Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017: AARP North Carolina is urging Senators Burr and Tillis to oppose the proposed Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017. The design of the plan will most surely result in higher health care costs for adults younger than 65 while providing for less healthcare coverage, and do nothing to rein in escalating costs of prescription drugs. It also undermines the recent advances

June 14, 2017 RALEIGH, NC – North Carolina ranks 38th overall when it comes to services available for our aging population, and AARP warns more must be done, at an accelerated pace, to meet changing demographic demands. Even worse, NC’s support for family caregivers, especially those in families with long-term diseases such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson s, ranks just eight slots from the bottom. This, according to a new, comprehensive state-by-state Scorecard from AARP with support of the nation’s leading organizations behind quality long-term